I have enjoyed working with fabrics and fibers since I was a child. My first foray into the world of art was while I was taking a class in technical drafting. By combining the skills learned in the drafting class with my love of fibers, I had my first taste of a new career. I started out doing craft shows but soon discovered that this was really not the proper venue for the type of work that I really wanted to do. When I was accepted into the Art-A-Fair Festival in Laguna Beach, California, an entirely new world was opened to me. My work was now readily accepted as art and I as an artist. This was an interesting transition after a career as an engineer with no art training. Under the influence of all the beautiful artwork in Laguna Beach, my work became less of an exercise in precision and more of an artistic expression. I observed the works of some of my favorite artists and tried to emulate their techniques using the media of fabric and fibers rather than paints. Gradually, my own voice evolved. My art has led me to some interesting experiences including several television appearances, ownership of an art gallery, curator of multiple exhibitions including “In the Toilet – an Exhibit of Art Meets Function,” and being named one of the top Hispanic business women of the year in 2004. My work has been shown at the Art-A-Fair Festival; the Sawdust Winter Fantasy; the Montrose Arts Festival; Oceanside Days of Art; San Diego ArtWalk; Mission Viejo Chalk Festival; How Original! An Art Gallery in Laguna Beach; a solo show at the Colony Theatre in Burbank; a solo show at the City of Buena Park City Hall; a solo show at the Capistrano Playhouse in San Juan Capistrano; the West Valley Art Museum in Peoria, Arizona; the Page-Walker Art Center in Cary, North Carolina; the Bazaar Del Mundo Wearable Art Show in San Diego; Encrustations, a special exhibit at the Houston International Quilt Festival in Houston Texas; Saddleback Art League rotating exhibit; the Orange Open - Orange Art League; Fallbrook Art Center; Art That’s Small in City Hall in Laguna Beach; the Southwest Arts Festival in Indio; The Brush Art Gallery in Lowell, Massachusetts; and many others.

I worked many long hours to create the artwork on these pages. If you wish to include an image of my artwork on your blog or website, feel free to do so. However, please show my name, Loretta Alvarado, as the creator and my website www.MusicQuilts.com. Thank you so much for supporting artists everywhere!